dhi system round table covid-19 update
TRANSCRIPT
DHI System
Round Table
COVID-19 Update
Friday, April 3, 2020
National DHIA/QCS Staff
Welcome Update and AnnouncementsFriday, April 2. 2020
Welcome
This is an informational session
This session is about data handling, lab, COVID-19 impact and
general dairy industry
Please feel free to ask questions – FAQ and Q and A
QCS Operations and Field Service Audits• Routine QCS operations including invoicing, audit submission deadlines, and
off-site audits will continue in accordance with the centering month schedule.
• Field service providers are asked to submit audit materials via Dropbox that include work done during the audit period by the mutually agreed upon deadline.
• For those providers with spring field technician meetings that have been cancelled or delayed, this section of the audit will not affect certification status. Documentation should be submitted as part of the audit follow-up. Extensions on submission deadlines may be requested and will be reviewed/granted on case-by-case level.
• All QCS travel [on-site audits] through April 25th have been postponed. QCS travel [on-site audits] for the last week of April and in May & June will be reviewed individually based on advisories/situation approximately 2-3 weeks prior to the intended travel dates.
QCS Meter Center Operations• Submit meter calibrations that were completed during the audit period. For
those meters not calibrated, it will be noted as part of the audit follow-up. There will be no affect on certification status for meters that were due for calibration in March-May 2020 that were not calibrated provided they are calibrated when operations return to routine/normal.
• Datamars [Tru-Test]: open and normal level of parts in stock, delivery times have minimal effect. However, please advise Pat in advance of larger orders that you may be placing in the upcoming months to allow time for shipment from New Zealand in case of possible production/shipping delays in NZ or with US Customs.
• For those laboratories that have a meter center in common areas, consider suspension of meter calibration to avoid bringing contaminants into building. Another option is to disinfect (wash or spray) meters or leave them outside building for 24-72 hours.
Laboratories – Operations/Sample Handling• Contactless pickup of empty vials & delivery of test-day samples
• Rinsing/Disinfection of vials and racks prior to entry into laboratory facilities
• Rotating shifts or extended hours to minimize number of persons in the laboratory
• Social distancing of employees in all areas of lab operations
• Consider using vials once and disposing vs. washing and sending back out to dairy
• Back-up plan for sample analysis – where will you send DHI samples in case of
temporary laboratory closure?
• Bentley Instruments & FOSS are open and ready to support DHI laboratories –
remote and on-site service, parts inventory, refurbished machine(s) to swap out if
needed. Working on contact with Perten-Delta at this time.
QCS Laboratories –Audits/Monthly PT Trials
• On-site audits for April cancelled
• August, September, & October scheduled audits will be dependent on public
health guidelines and the US-Canada border status.
• Monthly PT trials for laboratories [components & ELISA] will continue as
scheduled. Trial dates may be adjusted in accordance with requests from
the samples unknowns supplier.
• Submission deadlines for monthly PT trials will be extended upon request
prior to published deadline. There will be no affect on certification status for
any laboratory.
Data Flow Considerations for Herd Testing• Herds on supervised testing may request unsupervised [owner-sampler] test
for 90 days (from March 7) to minimize contact. • DHI affiliate drops off/picks up meters, sample vials as contactless events
• Data file upload and normal lab analysis
• Leave test plan as supervised and process normally
• This will ensure no affect on DCR which may be important for breed association herds
• Field managers discretion – no need to contact National DHIA or QCS
• If the herd remains on unsupervised programs past COVID-19 period, then normal local procedures for changes in test plan, supervision codes
• Herds with on-farm electronic meters/robots that skip sampling• Handle like LER herds
• No affect on DCR for milk, DCR for components will be lower
• Review with herd manager if concerned about a minimum DCR for components for breed association programs
NDHIA/QCS Messages, Resources and Impact• Data flow, DRPCs and the CDCB genetic and genomic evaluations for CDCB April
2020 will be “as usual”.
Communications
• NDHIA/QCS resource area to help navigate the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), especially for different or disrupted data flow and how to handle what might be affected. www.dhia.org/covid19.asp
• DairyBusiness NDHIA banner click through and DHI app is available and will have current topics and content. www.dairybusiness.com
• Zoom is an excellent resource for bringing people together within and across DHI system. NDHIA/QCS/DHIA Services have been using Zoom for three (3) plus years – Steven Sievert has prepared an excellent tips and use sheet which will be distributed and on the NDHIA COVID-19 resource area.
NDHIA/QCS Messages, Resources and Impact
General Topics and Business Continuity
The DHI system is part of the “essential business of dairy and food production”
DHI business, especially Field Service and Labs, will need to evaluate and
adapt to national, state and local government guidelines for COVID-19 as to
herd interactions for field staff and laboratory operations.
DHI System organizations and individuals should use best practices in
consideration of dairy herds, people, DHI and business management relating
to the CDC guidelines
DHIA Services Messages and ImpactBusiness Continuity
• EarTagCentral is operating as normal for orders, with similar response time
from DHIA Services
• Tag manufacturers are close to similar delivery, but may require more time
on front end ordering depending on tag manufacturers’ staffing and location
• Delivery of tag orders will be as before via UPS or FedEx
• Delivery drop off instructions should be made by the dairy herd for the
location on-site at the dairy herd office or house
• Ori-Collector parts in limited supply and don’t know delivery schedule
NDHIA/QCS Messages, Resources and Impact
General Topics and Business Continuity
The DHI system is part of the “essential business of dairy and food production”
Five key points:
1. Communicate and follow the guidelines of the location (public, herd, lab)
2. Cover up if sneezing or coughing
3. Clean or disinfect door knobs or handles and restrooms
4. Social (physical) distancing of six (6) feet
5. Handwashing for 20 seconds frequently
Handwashing demo sent to each lab and field service
National DHIA-QCS Schools/Meetings for 2020• DRPC Advisory Committee [April 23] face-to-face cancelled – options
include video calls or meeting later in 2020
• 3A Sanitary Standards Meeting [May 11-13] postponed to August 2020
• ICAR [June 14-19] postponed until 2021
• ELISA Technician Training School [June 23-24] postponed to later in 2020
• National DHIA Board Meeting [July 22-23] under review at the current time
• LAC/NALMA Meeting [September 14-16] under review at current time
• Meter Technician Training School [October 19-21] still planned as scheduled – Manheim, PA – hosted by Lancaster DHIA
Round Table Discussions
What is the situation for milk recording in other places in
the world?
What is the situation for milk recording in the US?
Experiences to share?
What is the expected % change thus far in US?
Coming out the back end of April? May? June?
Coming out of COIVD?
Round Table Discussions
Milk Recording in Europe
• Closed 100% in France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, and
Poland
• No date when expected to be back in operation
Round Table Discussions
Milk Recording in the Netherlands
• On-farm milk sampling is possible if 1.5m distance is respected. Also farmer and milk sampler have to be free of any symptoms, even light symptoms, of COVID-19 infection.
• Owner-sampled services are still available – but no contact with staff allowed
• Office staff are working from home (some exceptions, but we are very strict)
• Consulting and software support services are provided remotely only
• Qlip lab (NL) and MCC lab (Flanders) are able to maintain service
• Ultimate step could be to suspend all MR services.
Round Table Discussions
Milk Recording in Denmark
• Is the decision of the farmer whether the milk sampling should
be carried out
• Gloves to the staff when they handle farmers computers (TF4,
Delpro….)
• Handover point (samples, materials) without human contact
(>1,5 m)
• Key positions work in home office
• Laboratory also in shift work and without overlap
• Milk recording, milk analysis are classified as systemically
relevant
Round Table Discussions
Milk Recording in Germany
• Is the decision of the farmer whether the milk sampling should be carried out
• Hygiene instructions (wash hands, sneeze in the crook of the arm
• Handover point (samples, materials) without human contact (>1,5 m)
• Occupy key positions (when not in home office) these people work in shifts (half an hour break between shifts)
• Laboratory also in shift work and without overlap
• Milk recording, milk analysis are classified as systemically relevant. This gives us more options. Nevertheless, it is not excluded that the stop will come soon
Round Table Discussions
Milk Recording in Canada
• On-farm milk sampling services have been suspended
• Owner-sampled services are still available – but no contact with staff allowed
• Office staff are working from home where possible (most of them)
• Consulting and software support services are provided remotely only
• Next step of enhanced risk measures would be to stop all testing services
• Canada is still in the early stages of the spread - no clear understanding on how long the situation will last – but high probability that we will have to stop all testing at some point
Round Table Discussions
Milk Recording in USA
What is happening in different regions? organizations?
25% decline? 10% decline 5% decline
Owner Sampler and/or supervised?
Expected in April? May June?
What are Hot topics?
Next call week of April 13th, probably Thursday, April 16th
Round Table Discussions
Thank you for your participation
Together the US DHI group will
move forward
